Tommy's Rodi Savoia

[Tommy]

Name: Tom Holland
Screen Name: Tommy
Model: Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79
Scale: 1/72 Scale
Manufacturer: Airfix (CBK)
Aftermarket addons if any: Sky Models Decals for an S.M.79 Flown by C. E. Buscaglia of the 281 Sq. based on the Island of Rhodes (Rodi) in 1941.

[Tommy]

Here is the kit I'll use and below that is the paint and decal plan for the model. This is one of those SM79s that had the front section of the aircraft painted gray. I suppose this was to make it less conspicuous when attacking a ship from low level. The rest of the aircraft is in the traditional mottle type camoflage that Italian aircraft frequently were painted in.





Tommy

[Dirkpitt289]

Cool aircraft, nice choice

[SJPONeill]

Looking forward to another build of this truly classic kit...

[bigfiver69]

Can't wait to see this build!

[Tommy]

Thanks guys! I'll give it my best effort.

I am going to basically build this box stock, but I needed to make one modification that would make it easier during construction later on. The modification is to the main landing gear mounting point. As it comes from Airfix, you have to trap the landing gear struts when you assemble the wing. I don't like this as it forces you to install the landing gear before you start the heavy construction work which makes it difficult to work on the model and might lead to damaging the landing gear.

My solution is to make a styrene "channel" from Evergreen Styrene so that later I can just slip the landing gear in to the channel when I am ready for that.

The photo below shows the modification. I used a 4 x12 across the top and 4 x 8 across the sides. The dimensions are HO Scale (1/87).



Now I can just assemble the wings without having to install the landing gear yet.

Tommy

[Dirkpitt289]

Evergreen Styrene. My favorite

[Tommy]

I have painted and assembled the cockpit parts. I am doing my kit basically straight out of the box, so there is nothing noteworthy here other than this is where I am.



Tommy

[Tommy]

I am making more progress these days than at the beginning. I have completed the propellers, assembled the wheels, engines and cowlings, assembled and filled the fuselage, wings, torpedos, and tailplanes. The machine guns are cleaned up and ready for painting. I am using both torpedos...cause...well...two torpedos are better than one. Having built this same model about 5 years ago has helped me to streamline construction this time around.







Tommy

[Dirkpitt289]

You seem to be moving along nicely Tommy. Keep up the good work

[MerlinJones]

This is another of my Must-Do kits. It'll be good to have yours and Kruaxi to follow.

Regards,
Bruce

[Justin1980]

Excellent start Tommy,

Justin

[Tommy]

Thanks Gents!

In spite of overtime at work, I have made some more progress. I completed the filling, sanding, and priming of the subassemblies. Tonight I assembled the wings to the fuselage. I had gaps on the underside joints so I filled them with sheet styrene. This worked well.





It will be a piece of cake to sand those joints since the landing gear is not installed yet and thus not in the way of my hands and fingers.

Tommy

[Dirkpitt289]

Real nice work Tommy! Keep up the pace

[kruaxi]

Well done. what camo do you will use ? Buscaglia's ?